Thursday, August 23, 2007

Annals of Absurdity: China's new regulations on reincarnation

In one of history's more absurd acts of totalitarianism, China has banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission. According to a statement issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the law, which goes into effect next month and strictly stipulates the procedures by which one is to reincarnate, is "an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation."

Do read the story for a better understanding of the underlying motives for China's regulatory overreach.